Everyone in the South loves Dale Murphy, but that still wasn't enough to make the Hall of Fame.

Major League Baseball has taken a beating in recent years. Pick a subject, we’ve probably bashed the sport for it. PEDs. Instant Replay. Umpires. Crazy commissioner (OK, that’s every sport. Never mind.). Hall of Fame. Especially the Hall of Fame.

Last night, I asked a few friends who they would put in the hall themselves, if they got a ballot. The steroid issue was addressed quickly — one said yes to Bonds and Clemens, one said no. Everyone agreed that journalists probably shouldn’t be the folks putting people in a hall of fame and we went on to why UNC basketball is struggling and it went away.

Then, earlier today, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced that its voters decided not to enshrine any eligible players this year. No Murphy. No Bonds. No Clemens. No Biggio. No nothing.

Bonds makes another out with the BBWAA.

The result set off a storm of snark on Twitter about the BBWAA, its antiquated thought process and croney-ism.

What if, for all the grief they’ve taken in recent years, the BBWAA have gotten it very right when it comes to choosing (or not choosing) the best of the very best in the past 10 years?

This group of writers as a collective are making their thoughts on steroids known loud and clear — you did them, you’re not getting in. The argument can certainly be made that these same writers didn’t do enough to investigate the ballooning statistics (and biceps) of the era and possibly prevent it from happening, but that’s the way they’re voting. And that’s fine. If that means this group gives a blanket “no” to Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa, et al, so be it. If the veterans committee decides the other direction in the future, so be it as well.

That leaves the non-steroid guys in this discussion, and almost all of them have three things in common: Team loyalty/association, the nice-guy factor, and short bursts at the top.

Biggio's solid-but-not-spectacular career didn't get him in the Hall -- yet.

I love Joe Carter for so many reasons, but he’s not making the Hall of Fame. And he and Dale Murphy are so identical in their careers it’s frightening — the height of great for four or five years, then a steady decline until the end. Murphy was back-to-back MVP, but never finished in the top five for that award again. Tim Raines, same issue. Fred McGriff? Yep. Craig Biggio? A testament to durability and versatility, but not stardom. The one thing in his favor is membership in a rare society with the 3,000 hits. And if that’s what gets him in, well … OK. I guess.

In the end, though, shouldn’t the Hall of Fame for the most dynamic guys that you just couldn’t live without for an incredibly long period of time?

Bonds and Clemens were HOF worthy without PED’S.
They were the best pitcher and hitter of their error and “not innocent” in the court of law.
Baseball’s Problem is the OLD time writer’s who think everything years ago was better?
Maybe?
Maybe Not?
The game eveolves,maybe some of the BBWA need to be switched out as well?

[…] The old guard of baseball isn’t as forgiving. Pete Rose. Rafael Palmeiro. Barry Bonds, etc., etc., et al. One awful mistake, even if multiple people were involved but you’re the only one admitting it, is one too many. The integrity of the sport is besmirched. Many see that line of thinking as too harsh. Baseball’s argument is that its black list is for actions taken on the field vs. those off it, and that is a tough argument to deny. Oh, and remember last year everyone was fired up that no one got into the hall at all. […]

About This Blog

Howdy. I’m sports editor Dan Spears, and I keep everything straightened up around here — with thoughts on pretty much anything to do with sports, both locally and nationally. I’ve been with the StarNews since August 2006, and sports editor since September 2008. I’m a big college basketball fan and have been to the first weekend of the NCAAs every year since 1997, either as a fan or a writer. I attempt to play golf, run marathons and play volleyball here in town at Capt’n Bill’s on Market Street. Enjoy reading, and let me know what you’re thinking … Dan